Worries

They were gathered in the dining room, enjoying their dinner together.

"Cedie, put down your phone and focus on finishing your food," Kurtis chided gently.

Cedie reluctantly obeyed, setting his phone aside with a pout.

Rein and Haru both reached for the last piece of meat on the plate simultaneously, sparking a silent showdown between them.

"This is mine, I touched it first," Rein asserted with a smirk.

"No way, I touched it first, so it's mine," Haru countered, equally determined.

Rein's smirk widened. "Well, I'm younger, so technically, it should be mine."

Haru scoffed. "Respect your elders; that meat belongs to me."

Their disagreement escalated into a minor scuffle over the meat until Troy intervened, offering a plate piled high with fresh servings.

"Calm down, guys. There's plenty more meat to go around," Troy reassured them.

They both greedily loaded up their plates, as though they were the sole occupants of the room, driven by an insatiable hunger.

"Can't you exhibit some table manners while dining?" Ivan interjected, his voice tinged with exasperation.

"Hmph! He's the one who started it," Haru retorted, his tone defiant.

Ivan rolled his eyes in response, choosing to focus on his meal.

Meanwhile, Kaye couldn't help but notice Warren's absence.

"I've hardly seen Warren lately. Is he okay?" she inquired, directing her concern to Mikhail.

Mikhail, unfazed, calmly continued eating.

"He's currently in the east, sorting out issues with our exported products," Benjamin informed the group.

"But is he alright? He's been gone for days," Kaye persisted.

"He'll be fine. Warren's used to working solo, even during his time in the Serolf Empire. Plus, he has his team with him," Mikhail reassured, dismissing Kaye's worries.

Kaye sighed, expressing her concern for Warren's well-being. "I understand, but can we at least give him a day off once he's done with his mission?"

Mikhail's response was nonchalant. "I'll consider it."

The other men exchanged meaningful glances, silently pondering the significance of Warren's extended absence and Mikhail's seemingly indifferent attitude towards it.

As they continued their meal, conversation shifted to lighter topics, temporarily pushing aside the concerns surrounding Warren's absence.

.

....

"Kaye!!! Waaahhhh!!!" Rubie exclaimed joyously, tears streaming down her cheeks as she sprinted towards Kaye.

She enveloped her in a tight embrace, unable to contain her overwhelming emotions upon seeing her friend alive and well. Initially in disbelief, Rubie had thought it was a cruel prank orchestrated by Tin, but now, holding Kaye in her arms, the truth was undeniable, and tears of relief flowed freely down her face.

"I miss you so much!" Rubie choked out between sobs, her voice quivering with emotion.

Kaye returned the embrace, her own eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'm sorry for deceiving you about my death. I never meant to cause you pain. I was scared and thought death was my only escape from my problems. I'm truly sorry."

Rubie shook her head, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Let's put it behind us. Seeing you alive is all that matters. Just promise me you won't ever do something like that again. We were all devastated after your supposed death. I'm grateful it wasn't real, or else I'd be endlessly heartbroken."

Kaye nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Rubie," she whispered, holding her friend even closer.

They settled down and ordered food at their favorite restaurant, the air now filled with a sense of relief and happiness.

"By the way, how's the little one? I can't wait to meet him!" Rubie said, her face lighting up with excitement.

"Then you'll have to come over to our place later to meet my son," Kaye replied with a smile.

"Eh? What terrible timing, I have a date later. How about this Saturday instead? I'm free!" Rubie suggested.

"Sure, I'll look forward to it. Here's our address," Kaye said, typing it into Rubie's phone.

Then, she remembered she needed to arrange for her husbands to be out of the house when Rubie visited.

"I'll come too! I miss Eros as well," Tin chimed in eagerly.

"Great! You can both come over together," Kaye agreed.

Tin beamed at the prospect of seeing Eros again, her excitement palpable.

"By the way, Kaye, aren't you planning to return to work?" Rubie suddenly inquired.

Kaye sighed, her expression turning somber. "I do want to go back to work, but after faking my death, I don't think I can face my coworkers again. Maybe I should look for a new job."

"Aww, we'd miss having you with us at work. It wouldn't be the same if you worked somewhere else," Rubie lamented.

"Rubie, let's try to understand her situation. She's right, it won't be easy for her to return. If she suddenly shows up alive, our colleagues might not trust her," Tin interjected, offering her perspective.

"And besides, I've already taken so much leave from our company. I don't feel like I deserve to go back there," Kaye added.

"Okay, I understand. But where are you thinking of applying?" Rubie inquired.

"For now, I'm still looking online. I'll let you know once I find something," Kaye replied with a hopeful smile.

The two women exchanged smiles, their conversation turning lighter as their food arrived, and they began to enjoy their meal. However, Rubie's phone suddenly buzzed with a notification, catching her attention.

"Hey girls, have you seen the news?" Rubie asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

Tin and Kaye both furrowed their brows in curiosity.

"What's going on?" Tin asked, her interest piqued.

Rubie showed them her phone, and Kaye's heart skipped a beat as she read the headline. Tin's expression mirrored her concern.

"Timothy is back?" Tin glanced at Kaye, her voice filled with apprehension.

Indeed, Timothy had returned to his duties as mayor, fully recovered and ready to serve the city once more.

"You should stay indoors, Kaye. What if he sees you?" Tin suggested, her concern evident.

"I know, don't worry about me," Kaye reassured her, though inwardly she felt a surge of nervousness and fear.

Timothy must never find out about her son's existence.

.

.

Timothy stepped out of the city hall, his movements heavy with the weight of grief as he approached the waiting car. His assistant inquired about their destination, to which he replied with a solemn tone, "Let's head to the cemetery."

Throughout the trip, silence enveloped the car as Timothy stared out of the window, lost in his thoughts. His heart still ached with sorrow, the memories of Kaye haunting his every moment.

Upon arrival at the cemetery, Timothy reverently placed the bouquet of flowers on Kaye's grave, his movements gentle yet laden with the burden of regret. Tears welled up in his eyes once more as he stood before her final resting place, his heart heavy with guilt and remorse. If only he had treated her better, if only he hadn't kidnapped her and tried to start a new life with her, perhaps she would still be alive today. The weight of his mistakes bore down on him, and he found himself consumed by the enormity of his love for her.

For almost two hours, he remained seated in front of her grave, his gaze fixed on the photos of them together on his phone. If only he could turn back time, if only he could undo the pain he had caused. A deep, resigned sigh escaped his lips as he grappled with the overwhelming sense of loss and longing that engulfed him.

.

....

Kaye returned home to find Benjamin playing with Eros in the living room, a warm smile lighting up her face as she greeted her boyfriend with a kiss.

"Hi babe!" she exclaimed, leaning in to kiss him.

He returned the gesture with a smile. "Hey there," Benjamin replied, his eyes filled with affection as he welcomed her.

"How was your day with your friends?" he inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.

"It was amazing, especially seeing Rubie again after a year," Kaye replied, settling down beside him and gently taking Eros into her arms.

"And you, no missions today?" she asked, her attention shifting to Benjamin.

"I'm all done with my tasks for now. Mikhail gave me some time off to rest," Benjamin explained, his expression relaxed as he recounted his day.

Concern flickered in Kaye's eyes as she thought of Warren. "What about Warren? I haven't seen him around lately. Is he okay?" she inquired, her voice tinged with worry.

Benjamin's demeanor shifted slightly as he avoided her gaze, his posture becoming more rigid. "He's still at the port, I think," he responded vaguely.

Kaye furrowed her brows, the unease growing within her. Glancing at the wall clock, she realized she still had some time before her plan could be put into action.

"Benj, can you watch Eros for a bit?" she requested, her tone indicating urgency.

Confusion flashed across Benjamin's face. "Why? Are you leaving again?" he asked, puzzled by her sudden request.

"I forgot to buy milk for Eros. I'll be back soon," Kaye explained hastily, kissing both Benjamin and Eros before hurrying out of the mansion.

Left alone with Eros, Benjamin couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled over him. Milk? They had plenty of supplies at home.

As Kaye hailed a taxi and dialed Warren's number, her heart pounded with worry. When he finally answered, she wasted no time in getting straight to the point.

"Where are you?" she asked urgently, her voice betraying her concern.

"I'm at the port in the east. Why?" Warren's voice came through the phone, his tone gentle but tinged with curiosity.

"Send me your exact location. I want to see you," Kaye insisted, determination evident in her voice.

"But Kaye, it's dangerous here," Warren protested, his concern for her safety palpable even over the phone.

"Just send me the location, please," she insisted, her worry for him overriding any fear she felt.